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If you missed it, don’t forget to check out the latest episode of the BN Podcast. I was never a podcast person until I started recording one, and now I think I want to listen to many more. If anyone has any quality suggestions – of any kind, doesn’t have to be just sports – drop ’em in the comments.

Buster Olney shares some thoughts on what he’s hearing from teams around baseball about the Cubs: “Over the last week, have heard compliments from other teams about the way that the Cubs are methodically rebuilding, from the ground up.” He goes on to tease us all with, “One more thing about the Cubs: I don’t think Price will be traded until next winter, but by then, they could be well-positioned to land him.” Olney is just speculating, of course, but it underscores the fact that, with patience, the Cubs’ organization could be in a very, very good place one year from today.

Matt Garza threw again yesterday, and like his first day of throwing earlier this week, he says it went well. It also sounds like he’s itching to let it all out and face some batters.

It’s the All-Star break in the Winter Leagues, and Junior Lake was the Cubs’ sole All-Star representative between the Dominican All-Stars and the Venezuelan All-Stars. He went 1-3 with an RBI (scoring Hanley Ramirez) in the game.

Patrick Mooney tells the story of how the Cubs drafted San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (then also a pitcher) in the 2009 MLB Draft, and tried to get him to sign on for a little trial baseball run, a la Matt Szczur. Folks at the time – including NFL scouts – didn’t think he could make it in the NFL, so the Cubs’ overtures must have been pretty tempting. Looks like Kaepernick made the right decision. (Then again, who knows what kind of pitcher he’d be right now?)

Let’s work a little exercise in clarifying anger – I couldn’t help but notice that a number of you were angry about the Cubs’ reported signing of Korean reliever Chang-Yong Lim to a split minor league/major league contract, and were similarly angry that the Cubs had claimed reliever Sandy Rosario off of waivers yesterday. I won’t try to convince any of you who are angry about these low-risk moves that every (good) team makes that the moves are low-risk, smart moves (I guess I just did). I will, however, try to help you clarify your anger so that you can express your disapproval in a more meaningful way: you aren’t angry that the Cubs are trying to pick up players on the cheap in order to find value and competitive advantage, as every team tries to do. You are angry that, each time the Cubs make one of these minor moves, they aren’t making a major move. Be honest with yourself about the source of your anger, and then we can all have a more meaningful conversation about the real issue – the Cubs’ plans for rebuilding and for 2013 – instead of mouth-pooping back and forth about low-risk, decent-upside, super small moves that every team in baseball makes and would be stupid not to make.

On Lim, specifically, let me add: if you expect the Cubs to be uncompetitive in 2013, before really trying to take a step forward in 2014, how could you not see Lim as a perfect signing on a two-year, major/minor split contract with almost no guaranteed money? He won’t contribute anything of value in 2013, but should be ready to go in 2014. If he’s not ready to go, the Cubs won’t owe him much of anything. To those who say the signing makes no sense, I say … that makes no sense.

This may very well be the most intense comments thread I’ve ever come across on this site.

Richard Nose

Mouth-pooping. ha ha ha, brilliant. “You’ve got poop in your mouth.”

Hee Seop Chode

I’ve been a long time fan of podcasts. I like APM: Marketplace for light insight into economics and finance; the Boiler Room for free good electronic DJ sets primarily from London; Freakonomics Radio from the men who brought you the book; HBR IdeaCast – Harvard’s MBA program produces this interesting gem; Monocle Videocast – takes me around the world for 5 minutes at a time; NPR: Planet Money – more light economics & finance; Sound Opinions – Chicago Suntimes writer and Depaul university Music guy expose me to new music; and XLR8R – more dancy stuff from Europe. Good Stuff!

You’d be amazed what is out there for free. It’s like I’m reading every time I walk to or from my car/the train.

Troy

That is insultingly patronizing.

Exactly what my 14 year old son said. 

cRAaZYHORSE

Am I to believe that the Cubs and its propaganda machine in that that low level risk deals will make the club better ? I think not. The Cubs have a plan and a part of that plan is a good plan . Rebuild . I can not think of any major league team that would go on record and state the Cubs are doing things wrong. And if question about the Cubs rebuild, any person that says the Cubs should not focus on a rebuild is wrong. But if the Question is asked Do you think the Cubs a Major Market that charges it fans one of the highest ticket prices is being fair to its fans by signing only low level free agents and shredding payroll many Cub fans are upset.

On the Rebuild its going great ! Its the only thing the Cubs have to sell is a rebuild. and its a crying Shame in itself. The front office by camparison has done a bad job on the 25 man roster. No Need to go over what the Cubs Lack on the field. yet other teams have done well . The Redsox Front office has shed 250 million in payroll . The Dodgers have bought a new team with endless amount of money that grows on A single California tree.The Tigers , Reds Angels have all either signed traded for baseball players that help its 25 man roster. The Pirates Twins and Brewers are always looking for pieces that actually makes sense too its roster. The Cardinals always seems to add few players that actually do make a difference on its roster. The White Sox have a better team and a stinky minor league system. yet no one goes those games yet they still try to bring Championships to Chicago and quality baseball on its diamond. the list can go on and on

What i find amusing ,and i have been a Cub Fan for over 40 years that after a few bad contracts the Cubs have decided to to forgo the free agency Market and look for clams hoping for pearls.

The Cubs have never been big spenders on the Free Agent Market – Yes they have in recent history signed some bad contracts but this front office hardly fixed those problems they just paid those contracts out right and move a selected few to other team in exchanged for clam hope.

The Cubs are going backwards yet forward if one includes the minor league system. Yet every teams farm system holds special players just as the Cubs.

In time will will know if the Cubs are doing the right moves but for the present Theo the snake oil salesman will promise Cub fans the Future just like heaven in the afterlife to his disciples

http://bleachernation.com frank hutch

next year price for a package around vogelbach. hes gonna hit 40 hrs in a full season of minor league ball. Of course there will be other parts. But it starts will vogel. Tampa is gonna need a long term solution at 1b and loney isnt it. And were set at first for a long time. What do you think?

Matt

Yes. Tampa has struggled at 1st base and Vogelbach would be a great prospect for them. Id center a package around him for sure.

Noah

Not sure he’s a great fit. First, even if Vogelbach destroys the minors (and I expect him to have some struggles on his way up as most prospects do) in 2013, what’s the highest he’ll get? A cup of coffee in AA? It’s more likely he ends the season in Daytona, and as such is still at least a year and a half away after 2013. Plus, he’ll be a bat only player who hasn’t yet proved he can hit in the upper minors. This isn’t to say that Vogelbach won’t have significant trade value later, but he’s going to have to at least have 300 PAs dominating upper minor league pitchers before he maxes that value out.

On top of that, the Rays heavily value defense compared to other clubs, so they’d probably look at Vogelbach as a DH, which further diminishes his value.

The Cubs should definitely be in on Price if he’s available next year. But, barring a trade for another prospect of their type of equal value or someone like Pierce Johnson or Dillon Maples just blasting through the minors this season, the Cubs’ side of that trade will have to be headed by Javier Baez, Albert Almora or Jorge Soler.

Dante Hicks

Greatest Podcast Brett? Marc Maron’s WTF. Not exactly a secret anymore, but as many as I want to, this is the only one. COmedy, music, and Maron’s brilliant comedy. Not to miss.

willis

The anger comes also from the fact that there is no way in hell a team of the Cubs’ resources should be facing down back to back 100 loss seasons. And that’s exactly what is going to happen. That could be avoided with a couple moves, which this FO refuses to make. 100 losses once is unacceptable. Back to back? It causes anger with the fan base.

baldtaxguy

Did they lose 100 games in 2013?

willis

Look at the 40 man…add Stewart and the other guy who’s name I don’t feel like spelling…they will lose 105 or so at least in 2013.

mudge

105 losses would be an historic achievement. Looking forward to it.

Matt

Sorry but Stewart is an upgrade over Valbuena. And so far Nate is an upgrade over LaHair…plus the cubs are not done shopping for outfielders.

http://www.bleachernation.com Brett

To be fair: Stewart *could* be an upgrade over Valbuena, or he could be worse than replacement level. He could be much worse than Valbuena, or he could be much better.

hansman1982

Wait, the 2013 season is over?

What the hell…you walk into a fortune teller’s shop and you walk out a year older. Cripes…wait, why didn’t anyone seem to miss me? That’s depressing.

Cubbie Blues

This might mirror how you are feeling.
[img]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/77510188/G-G/Lower%20Self-Esteem.png[/img]

Jack Weiland

These moves: name them please.

Dan

What’s the difference between being a .500 team by signing some free agents, and being a 100-loss team. Regardless we miss the playoffs. I’d rather go through these growing pains now. It’s going to be so exciting to see these young names come to fruition in 3-5 years at Wrigley. My only gripe is ticket prices. They should reflect the quality of major league team. If you are going to total rebuild route, then don’t charge top dollar.

cRAaZYHORSE

Somewhere between 1 million paid admission tickets and Cub frenzy in Chicago. Little kids asking for Cub products to be put under the tree. happy grand parents and parents. A sense of pride when we wear our Cub Gear. That the difference

Jono

Plus the enjoyability factor. 100 loss seasons make a brutal season. Less people go to games and watch on tv. That’s bad for businesses. And teams don’t have to lose 100 games to rebuild. Look at the cardinals. The only reason that makes sense to me for having such bad rosters is for ricketts to turn a profit and make some of that money back from the purchase. I get that. But there’s no logical reason for losing 100 games just to rebuild

Dave

I would say a big difference.
A .500 team is watchable and can provide entertainment .
There is no entertainment or joy in watching a team painfully stumble their way thru a 100 loss season.

MichiganGoat

Geez three pages already, so instead of reading through all this here are the podcasts I listen to regularly: This American Life, Hardcore History, things you missed in History class, Savage Love, and Fangraphs (but they have horrible audio quality)

http://www.youtube.com/channel/SWsbL1BDxMUkU xillerrodriguez

A good baseball podcast is TheScore’s Getting Blanked podcast. They’re Blue Jays fans, but discuss all the major sports and games during the season. You can find the video podcasts on youtube

You have to consider how different people (Cubs fans as an example) form their opinions. There is an emotional/intellectual spectrum that each person fall into when they make decisions and form opinions.

Some people think more with their emotions and some people think more with logic and thoughts. Keeping this in mind makes it easier to have a healthy debate rather than an arguing match.

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